Word
snowflake
US/ˈsnoʊˌfɫeɪk/
UK/snˈəʊfleɪk/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who is easily offended or thinks they are very special and unique. It is often used as an insult for people who are seen as too sensitive.
n. a person perceived as having an inflated sense of uniqueness or being overly sensitive to perceived slights. Often used pejoratively in political or social discourse to dismiss an opponent's concerns as fragile.
Examples
“He called me a snowflake just because I complained about the noise.”
“The term snowflake became a common insult on social media to mock people who express strong emotional reactions to controversial topics.”
Examples
simple
“He called me a snowflake just because I complained about the noise.”
contextual
“The term snowflake became a common insult on social media to mock people who express strong emotional reactions to controversial topics.”
Usage
Often used as a derogatory label in informal or political contexts.
Real-World Examples
“So, to the person who says it’s a snowflake generation, just try living 24 hours as a 16-year-old.” “If in doubt about what temperature to wash at, most modern washing powders do a good enough job on a cold wash (it’s often a snowflake symbol).” Etymology
From snow + flake. Compare Saterland Frisian Sneeflokke (“snowflake”), Dutch sneeuwvlok, Luxembourgish Schnéiflack, German Schneeflocke.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/snowflake